FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY: WINTER HAVEN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EARNS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
Winter Haven, FL – April 10, 2024
The City of Winter Haven maintains a strong focus on achieving accreditation throughout various service-line departments. “This designation is not easily obtained, and it demonstrates a staff who is aligned, innovative, and dedicated to delivering exceptional services through best practices,” says T. Michael Stavres, City Manager. “Multiple other departments are actively pursuing additional designations.”
Winter Haven Public Works Department Becomes 2nd in the County to Earn Accreditation
The Winter Haven Public Works Department also recently received full accreditation from their governing body, the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the first time. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual. The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and its employees.
Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA spans a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.
“For the past several years, the Public Works Department has worked to document and refine its practices, policies, and procedures to ensure that it consistently delivers exceptional service to the City of Winter Haven,” says Brittany Hart, Public Works Director. “This accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Achieving accreditation underscores the department's commitment to upholding the highest professionalism, efficiency, and accountability standards. It also serves as a benchmark for future growth and improvement, guiding the department in its ongoing mission to enhance the quality of life for all residents. I am incredibly proud of our team's accomplishments and am confident that this achievement will propel the department to even greater heights in the years to come as we continue to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our community.”
APWA’s accreditation process is designed to assist the agency in the continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.
While this is a nationally recognized accreditation program, there are only a handful of accredited public works agencies within the state of Florida. The Winter Haven Public Works Department joins other Florida accredited public works agencies in the cities of Aventura, Coral Springs, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Lakeland, Largo, Miami Beach, North Port, Pinellas Park, Port St. Lucie, Saint Petersburg, and Wellington, as well as several counties.